Glossophobia: The fear of public speaking

“Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment”
– Benjamin Franklin 

Overview:
Many people in America suffer with the fear of public speaking, or, Glossophobia. When your on stage giving a speech, in front of a classroom, or speaking at work, the two most prominent problems that occur if you are scared of public speaking are the feelings of fear and anxiety.

When you become afraid, a part of your brain sends signals to the adrenaline glands causing them to release adrenaline and cortisol. This can cause you to stutter or talk too fast while speaking publicly. Becoming afraid of speaking also depends on the situation you are in. If it is a new crowd, you might be scared because of all the new faces. Also, if you are giving a speech in front of high ranking officials or people of power, this may cause you to be afraid. It depends on what the situation you are in.

Strategies to Overcome Glossophobia: 

1. Practice, Practice, Practice. If you don’t have too much experience with public speaking your more likely to be afraid of going on stage and talking.
2. When you add pauses to a speech or presentation, it actually enhances the quality of the speech, so don’t be afraid of pausing in a speech.
3. Don’t be afraid to mess up, no one is perfect and people in the audience only care about what you have to say not how you say it.